De camilla: virgen: y reyna de los volscos · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De camilla: virgen: y reyna de los volscos
Subject: Famous Women; Camilla; Metabus; Important Women
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Italy; Latium
Description: Metabus, king of the Volscians, is depicted on the right side of the engraving with a lance in his hands. We know that this is Metabus as his name is engraved above his head. Boccaccio explains that after being exiled from his kingdom, he took his only daughter with him to safety. When he came across a river, he tied his daughter Camilla to a lance and hurled it across the river in order to save her. They both survived, and Camilla grew up to be a strong, fierce warrior. Camilla goes to war against the Trojans and ends up getting wounded by a Trojan knight named Arruns. This is depicted in the background of the engraving, as Camilla is seen riding on her horse with a lance under her arm as she charges at the enemy. Her name is engraved above her head to identify her. The enemy’s lance is illustrated piercing the chest of Camilla which ends up killing her.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:16663
Language: spa
Source Name: De Las Mujeres Ilustres [On Famous Women]
Parent Collection: 1494 Mujeres Ilustres; 1494 Mujeres Ilustres
Image: mta_16663_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Famous Women; Camilla; Metabus; Important Women